Residential Nurse (RN) (Mental Health Services)

Overview

The ACCS Residential Nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who promotes community integration and functioning of adults living with mental health conditions and complex medical needs. Working in a comfortable residential group living environment, the ACCS Residential Nurse will coordinates access and manage health care for residents in conjunction with Care Coordination entities and all associated medical and behavioral health providers. The ACCS Residential Nurse monitors and consults with Medical staff regarding the medical and psychiatric conditions of each resident. In addition, the Registered Nurse develops and oversees the delivery of health promotion strategies for modifiable risk factors by staff and oversees Medication Administration Program (MAP) compliance for the residence.

Keywords: RN, Registered Nurse, Nursing, Residential Nurse, Mental health nursing, VinfenRN

Responsibilities

Summary

The ACCS Intensive Medical GLE (IM GLE) Nurse (Registered Nurse) promotes the full integration andfunctioning of Persons Served (PS) needed to live a healthy life in the community. Coordinates access toand management of health care for PS in conjunction with Care Coordination entities and all associatedmedical and behavioral health providers. Monitors and consults with IM GLE staff regarding the medicaland psychiatric conditions of PS. Develops and oversees the delivery of health promotion strategies formodifiable risk factors by staff. Oversees Medication Administration Program (MAP) compliance for theresidence.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information listed below:

• Promote the engagement, housing permanency, community tenure, achievement of greater selfsufficiencyand successful completion of tenure for all PS living at the site.• Oversee management of medical conditions of residents to proactively address the complex medicalconditions of the PS, including diabetes; kidney, pulmonary, mobility, physical safety and end of lifeissues; medical consequences of HIV/AIDs virus, and incontinence, etc.• Oversee nursing service delivery to all assigned PS, including participation in services, treatment andsupport skills planning and implementation of recovery goals, readiness for discharge, andtransitions to and from acute care settings as needed.• Meet with and conduct regular Nursing assessments of each PS in the residence. Update assessmentwhen significant medical status changes occur.• Coordinate support services, including hospice and the involvement of religious and spiritual supportsfor PS and their families/other supporters.• Develop, train staff on, and maintain all residents’ Treatment Plans and Care Plans for residents.• Supervise and direct the nursing support practices of the residence’s Certified Nursing Assistants.• Oversee MAP policies, protocols, audits and compliance for residence. Ensure that medications forPS are stored, administered, and disposed of in accordance with MAP requirements and companypolicies.• Train and monitor staff’s hands-on assistance to PS for grooming, showering, dressing, etc.• Educate and train direct service staff on pertinent health matters regarding PS’s condition,diagnosis(s), medication and signs and symptoms of chronic, acute and urgent physical health issues(e.g. Diabetes, HTN, CHF, COPD, Vital signs management).• Monitor and communicate PS needs for, and coordinate PS access to, health care with CareCoordination entities and all associated medical and behavioral health providers as needed.• Facilitate referrals to community providers as needed with Care Coordination entities.• Attend hospital discharge meetings when significant medical issues are present, advocate forrehabilitative stay if needed, and obtain hospital discharge summaries at time of discharge.• Educate and support PS families and friends (following HIPAA authorization protocols) regarding PSneeds and preferences as they relate to health issues and care.• Engage PS in personal health promotion activities targeted at modifiable risk factors. Use recoveryoriented,person-centered, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturallycompetent, and strengths-based approaches to help PS think through their current healthcircumstances, consequences and interest in change.• Design, facilitate and oversee health promotion interventions to address modifiable risk factors forearly morbidity and mortality of residents.• Design, facilitate and oversee health promotion interventions and day activities to address overallhealth and wellbeing of PS.• Record relevant information following established protocols.• Train/ tutor staff to prepare for MAP certification and recertification. Teach MAP at least once peryear. Attend State mandated MAP Consultant meetings twice a year.• Monitor receipt of physical, dental and other medical documentation; work with Care Coordinationentities and care providers to obtain as needed. Provide thorough and thoughtful documentation ofPS needs and services.• Support the provision of evidence-based practices and best practices to PS, including MotivationalInterviewing; Harm Reduction; Housing First; Stages of Change; Wellness Recovery Action Plans(WRAP); Seeking Safety and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.• Promote healthcare and employment services access for PS.• Advocate with medical providers for simple, effective medication regimens and for the reduction ofpoly-pharmacy.• Promote engagement, safe housing, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency andsuccessful completion of service for all PS.• Provide on-call clinical coverage as scheduled.• Engage as Member of ACCS Nurse Community of Practice, facilitated by Vinfen’s Director of Nursing,to support and improve role competency and professional development.• May serve, on a limited basis, as LPHA for PS with identified high risk medical needs to facilitate CareCoordination with external parties.• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

About Vinfen

Why Vinfen? We are committed to you! We offer great training, great benefits, career growth and job security!

Our comprehensive and generous benefits package includes

• A fully funded, employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan
• First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!
• Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)
• Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance along with the option to purchase additional, voluntary, Short-Term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
• Voluntary Term, Whole Life, Accident and Critical Care Insurance
• Generous paid time off (Employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week):
• 15 days of Vacation per year
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 10 Sick Days per year
• 3 Personal Days per year
• Educational Assistance and Remission Programs
• $500 Employee Referral Bonus with no annual cap!
• Other generous benefits including discounted YMCA memberships, access to discounted movie tickets and more!

About Us

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in over 550 sites throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit www.vinfen.org/careers.

My Job. My Community. My Vinfen.

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Qualifications

• Nursing school education required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Registered Nurse in Massachusetts required.
• Experience working with people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.
• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in their community of choice
• Knowledge of Nursing treatment principles and modalities, best practices and evidence-based practices.
• Knowledge of health risks of psychiatric disability
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningfulrelationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in theircommunity of choice• Knowledge of Nursing treatment principles and modalities, best practices and evidence-basedpractices.• Knowledge of health risks of psychiatric disability• Ability to adhere to the standards of Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction; Screening, BriefIntervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); Housing First; Stages of Change; and CognitiveBehavioral interventions• Knowledge of PS engagement strategies• Knowledge of medical crisis prevention, crisis intervention, and risk management strategies.• Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values and principles.• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally competent services. Sensitivity to the cultural,religious, ethnic, disability and gender issues of PS• Knowledge of the effects of prejudice including internalized negative attitudes about oneself,discrimination, and oppression of people with psychiatric disorders, and effects of poverty.• Knowledge of human, legal, and civil rights of PS• Knowledge of medical and psychiatric emergency services and acute care systems• Knowledge of community based mental health, health care, care coordination and other servicesand resources available to PS• Skills and competence to formulate effective Treatment Plan interventions, and to trainparaprofessional staff to implement aspects of plans• Ability to collaborate effectively with other staff members to address the needs of PS in theTreatment Plan• Ability to form supportive, trusting relationships with PS• Knowledge of Nursing assessment practices• Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment• Extensive knowledge of documentation standards and requirements

Typical Requirements

• Nursing school education required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.• Registered Nurse in Massachusetts required.• Experience working with people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatricconditions.• Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.